By Éabha Nic Ailín
A Donegal primary school has scooped two awards at the 20th Annual FÍS Film Awards.
St Garvan’s National School, Drumhalla, Rathmullan, attended the national awards ceremony which was held at The Helix, DCU, Dublin yesterday.
The school’s student-produced film Silent Movie Magic achieved remarkable success, winning both Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking – Production Design and the 20th Anniversary Judges’ Choice Award for Film.
The pupils were also nominated for the prestigious Overall Film Award.
The celebrations did not end there. In a proud moment for the students, RTÉ News interviewed two of the young filmmakers on the night, giving them the opportunity to share their experience on a national platform.
School Principal Róisín Hannigan spoke to the Donegal News about the school’s success.
“We are incredibly proud of our young filmmakers,” she said.
“To win two national awards and be recognised by RTÉ is a truly special achievement, particularly for a small country school like ours.
“The success has sparked great pride within the school and the wider community, shining a light on the importance of creativity, teamwork, and digital media skills in modern education.”
The film won Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking – Production Design and the 20th Anniversary Judges’ Choice Award for Film.
Ms Hannigan explained that Silent Movie Magic was originally created for the Rathmullan Film Festival last year.
“The project highlighted the students’ creativity, collaboration and storytelling skills as they brought their ideas from script to screen,” said Ms Hannigan.
“The children developed the film with the help and guidance of John D Ruddy, whose mentorship supported the students throughout the production process.
“Teachers and parents have praised both the pupils’ dedication and the invaluable expertise John Ruddy provided,” Ms Hannigan added.
AWARD CEREMONY
Hosted by RTÉ’s Sinéad Kennedy and attended by Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegard Naughton, the milestone event marked two decades of the FÍS Film Project and showcased the creative talents of young filmmakers from across Ireland.
With more than 1,500 pupils taking part nationwide, the FÍS Film Awards continue to highlight the exceptional standard of storytelling, technical skill and imagination being developed in primary school classrooms through filmmaking.
This year’s awards recognised excellence across 24 categories, including acting, costume design, originality, storytelling and technical achievement, reflecting the many creative roles pupils and teachers take on as part of the filmmaking process.
The award ceremony took place in The Helix, DCU.
Commenting on this year’s winners, Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education and Youth of Ireland said: “The FÍS Film Awards showcase the powerful role that creativity, collaboration and innovation play in teaching and learning across our primary schools. As curriculum reform continues to support more flexible, student-centred approaches to education, it is important that we recognise and nurture the diverse talents, interests and strengths of young people, including those that extend beyond traditional academic pathways.
“Initiatives such as FÍS reflect key curriculum priorities by promoting creativity, critical thinking, communication, digital literacy and teamwork, while enabling pupils to express their ideas in meaningful and engaging ways. These experiences support wellbeing, inclusion and the development of transferable skills that prepare students for lifelong learning.
“I warmly congratulate all of the students, teachers and school communities involved, and I commend the strong partnerships that continue to support creative learning within our education system,” Minister Naughton concluded.
Also Commenting, David Smith, President of the Institute for Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire said: “For 20 years, the FÍS Film Awards have demonstrated the power of creativity in education. At IADT, we are proud to support a project that gives young people the confidence to explore ideas, develop digital skills and tell meaningful stories through film. Seeing pupils from schools across Ireland celebrated on a national stage is a testament to the impact of this programme.”
The FÍS Film Awards ceremony is captured and broadcast by students of IADT’s National Film School, giving them invaluable hands-on experience in a professional setting.
The post-production of the awards is undertaken by students of IADT’s National Film School, allowing them to develop practical skills in editing, production, and storytelling while contributing to a nationally recognised event.
The award-winning film Silent Movie Magic can be viewed on the FÍS Film website.
